Letters to the editor: Interfaith Sanctuary, criminal justice in Idaho, vote by mail, Soroptimists

Interfaith Sanctuary

Yet another opinion piece on the proposed Interfaith Sanctuary shelter, the maybe-home to the homeless. The building is nestled on the north side of State Street and Willow Lane, situated among various small businesses, trailer parks, dilapidated old houses, old apartments and clogging, non-stop smelly State Street traffic. It’s not a gated community, but it’s not the Tenderloin, either. Not quite seedy, but getting there. It’s a distance from the Cooper Court hangout, too far to walk for those seeking a bed, so transportation is an issue. Purported to have 200-plus beds under one roof, mostly male. Bad karma.

The logistics are staggering. Who runs it, at what cost? Staffing? Meals? Showers? Laundry services? Medical care? Counseling? Transportation from here to there? Who provides it and who pays? Limits on length of stay? Check in and check out, like a motel? Indefinite lodging? Shouting matches and fist fights?

Once outside in the daylight hours, then what? Just hang out? Take a stroll down State Street? Or into the nearby residential communities? Panhandling? Mooching off the eateries in the area? Who funds the entire operation, the taxpayers?

Tom Yount, Boise

Soroptimist thanks

Many thanks!

Soroptimist International of Boise is ever grateful for the continued community support for the 64th Annual Holiday Gift Project serving low-income seniors in assisted living communities and area foster children! The community stepped up to the plate, making generous donations of gifts and dollars to bring joy to individuals, whose holiday otherwise would have been, just another day!

Special thanks to:

• Community members who purchased requests from the online gift wish list.
• Community members who donated money to purchase gifts.
• Community members who donated gift cards from local businesses.
• The Idaho Statesman for publishing information about the project.
• Dutch Bros Coffee for donating gift cards.
• Water Ski Pro Shop for serving as the local collection site.
• Facility Activity Directors and Department of Health and Welfare staff for gathering the gift requests.
• Soroptimist members who helped inventory, sort and deliver gifts.

Your generosity brightened the holidays with about 2,000 gifts for over 900 individuals, bringing smiles and hope to Treasure Valley seniors and youth. For more information about Soroptimist International of Boise go to https://www.soroptimistboise.org or contact us at si*****@so*********.net.

Shirley Biladeau, Boise, 2021 Holiday Project Coordinator

Criminal justice system

In the Idaho Statesman December 26, 2021 editorial entitled “Do’s and Don’ts for the upcoming Idaho legislative session,” it was recommended that the Idaho legislature “fix” our criminal justice system. The Statesman said Idaho is one of the most incarcerated states in the country despite having one of the lowest crime rates in the country. It should be noted that a small percentage of the criminal population commit the majority of the crimes in our state. When these often violent and repeat offenders are taken off our streets then crime rates drop. This does increase our incarceration rate but also keeps Idahoans safe. The Statesman apparently would like to adopt the policies of liberal major cities. The Idaho Legislature has been a leader throughout the years in updating the adult criminal justice system and this has resulted in a safer Idaho — let’s keep it that way!

Dean E Sorensen, M.D, Boise, former Idaho legislator and House caucus chairman

Vote by mail

Now is the time to overcome our fears about voting by mail. It is safe because each vote is verified. It is convenient because it saves time and money for each eligible voter to have more time to study each ballot, complete, then mail. Besides, if a voter is concerned about making sure their vote is counted they can always make the effort to take it to nearest polling location. Voting by mail also increases voter participation to more accurately represent more of the American people.

John Paige, Pocatello

Interfaith Sanctuary

As we follow the saga of the Interfaith Sanctuary proposal CUP21-00026 we have to step back and say thank you to our dedicated Planning and Zoning commissioners performing these duties. As unpaid civil servants they have to visualize the best for our city. Throughout this process they have had to read thousands of pages of written testimonies and letters of concern, listen to 147 testimonies lasting over 10 hours, read petitions opposing IFS move, listen to IFS’ attorney harangue his arguments and have had to extend the hearings into 4 meetings.

The stakes are huge! They must weigh the concerns of the neighborhood knowing that if they favor IFS, it will forever change the Veterans Park neighborhood. In contrast, they must show compassion for those experiencing homelessness. It is safe to say that the majority of surrounding neighborhoods compassionately hope for a better solution than the State Street move.

Lawsuits will inevitably follow regardless of P&Z recommendations. One might question, will the tax payers be on the hook for this expense?

I think it is safe to say that no one is envious of the extremely difficult decision the commissioners will have to make on Jan. 3.

David Bergerud, Boise